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Behold the Land
by James Smethurst
Introduction
Book Overview
Behold the Land traces the powerful story of the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union—one of the most important interracial labor movements of the 20th century. Smethurst explores how Black sharecroppers and tenant farmers organized across the South, fighting exploitation, racial terror, and economic injustice. Through archival research, he reveals how their activism reshaped the landscape of labor, civil rights organizing, and the meaning of solidarity in America.
The STFU was one of the most radical, interracial social movements the United States has ever witnessed.
James Smethurst
Why This Book Matters
- Illuminates a neglected chapter of Black working-class resistance rooted in collective struggle and solidarity.
- Shows how labor organizing in the Jim Crow South laid groundwork for future civil rights movements.
- Reframes agricultural labor history to center the political power of Black rural communities.
Book Details
- James Smethurst
- The University of North Carolina Press
- 2022
- Black History & Legacy
Remember the Roots. Honor the Struggle.
Explore the movement that challenged racial capitalism and redefined solidarity in the American South. Get your copy today and uncover a crucial chapter of labor and civil rights history.
